TED Fellows aren’t easy to classify. In the latest class, there’s a bioengineer who programs bacteria to change the color of urine to signal the presence of cancer — and to make bold, brightly colored art. There’s a data scientist who dreamed up a tool to let anyone with a cell phone build a credit score, even if they don’t have access to a bank. An astronomer who uses her training as an actor to inspire a new generation of scientists. A deaf artist whose sound installations explore our relationship to noise and language.

If you’re an innovator whose work crosses boundaries, you may just find a home in the TED Fellows program. The program welcomes thinkers with big vision — and helps them share their ideas with the world.

Why should you apply to be a TED Fellow? The TED Fellows program has a long track record of taking careers to the next level. Fellows attend a TED conference, for free, and have the opportunity to give a four-minute TED Talk. In speaking from the TED stage, you’ll reach a wide audience and meet industry leaders who may be able to help your realize your idea. Your talk may even be posted on TED.com. But aside from the conference itself, Fellows gain access to free life coaching and mentorship, public relations advice and speaker coaching from a panel of experienced advisors. And as a Fellow, you become part of a global network of innovators from a wide range of disciplines that may become future collaborators.

Program director Tom Rielly stresses that, even if it sounds like a longshot, you should take a chance and apply. “Some of our most successful Fellows have told us that they almost didn’t apply because they never imagined they’d be selected,” he says.

The online application for the TED Fellows program is low-key — it asks for basic information, answers to short essay questions and three references. And, yes, while the program is looking for applicants who’ve accomplished a lot so far, it also seeks out candidates with character and grit who have the potential to break barriers as they build their careers.

Greg Gage is a reliable source of both shock and awe at TED. Onstage over the years, this TED Fellow has demonstrated his low-cost DIY teaching kits by amputating a cockroach leg to show how neurons fire, remote-controlling a cyborg cockroach to demonstrate how electrical stimulation guides behavior, and taking away an audience member’s free will to show how one person’s brain can control the arm movements of […]

Aomawa Shields is a woman of “contradictions.” An astronomer and astrobiologist, she searches for exoplanets where life might exist by using computer models to calculate the kind of atmosphere they’d need to support it. And she’s also a classically trained actor, who — through her organization Rising Stargirls — teaches astronomy to middle school girls of color using theater, writing and visual art to […]

Comments (4)

ngofilecommented on Nov 20 2015

TED only select the persons who have an extra-ordinary command on Englih language, we are not enlgish native and also never studies in Englih medium school. It is totaly useless to apply for such candidates who do not have good command on English Language

robinpinto9896commented on Aug 31 2015

I am totally agree with it, The TED program has a long track record of which provide way to taking careers to the next level. Even i was thinking same and didn’t enrolled application because i never imagined that we will get selected, still my close friend got selected.